The Grand Astrologer put on a display of carriage drifting, traveling day and night without pause. He did everything in the carriage except relieve himself, never getting out or stopping.
At last, he reached Liuhe City within the time Yang Guang had set.
But even a cushioned carriage, jolting over roads of this era, was enough to nearly kill a man. And the Grand Astrologer was an old man, already with one foot in the grave. When he climbed down at Liuhe City, he could barely stand.
"I can't go on!"
"Let me rest!"
"I need to rest for a while."
Hearing this, the attendant's eyes widened. He hurriedly said, "Oh, my lord! You can't rest. His Majesty is waiting!"
The Grand Astrologer glared at him, his face full of anger. "At my age, how can I appear before His Majesty in this state?"
"This..."
What the Grand Astrologer said made sense.
But the attendant didn't dare make the decision!
He hurriedly said, "How about this? I'll report to His Majesty first. You can rest here for a while, all right? If His Majesty agrees, I'll take you to your lodgings."
If His Majesty refused, at least the Grand Astrologer would have managed to rest a little.
The Grand Astrologer knew the attendant couldn't decide for himself. This much leniency was already generous, so he said nothing more.
"Let's do that!"
The attendant answered and ran off to see Yang Guang.
He told him about the Grand Astrologer's condition.
After listening, Yang Guang gave a cold snort. "Here in Liaodong, I've been exhausting myself for the affairs of state and personally taking to the battlefield! I had him come here from the Eastern Capital, and now he says he's too frail! I think it's not his health that's failing. He